Films - November 2018

Languages

Czech

Daisies(Sedmirkrasky)

Directed by Věra Chytilová(Czechoslovakia, 1966, 76 min.)

An absurdist, anarchic farce, this is probably the single boldest film to emerge from the Czech New Wave during the Prague Spring moment of the late 1960s. Two young women, both named Marie, decide that the state of society is beneath contempt, and stage a series of pranks to signal their refusal to take any of its institutions seriously (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreNov. 4 to 7

Those Wonderful Years That Sucked(Bájecná léta pod psa)

Directed by Petr Nikolaev(Czech Republic, 1997, 109 min.)

The bittersweet comedy, adapted from a novel by Michal Viewegh, chronicles the life of a Czech family from the 1960s to just after the Velvet Revolution. At the forefront are Milena, a lawyer who acts on stage in her spare time, her husband Ales, a government worker, and their son Kvido.

Bistro BohemTue., Nov. 20, 7 p.m.

Danish

Astrid Lindgren, the author of numerous children's books and creator of Pippi Longstocking, struggles for independence in 1920s Sweden. Dying of boredom on her strict family's farm, she entertains her many siblings with tall tales, roaming the forests and fields instead of doing her chores. She jumps at the chance to work at the local newspaper office, where she is romanced by the handsome, married, but soon-to-be-divorced editor Blomberg. Learning some hard life lessons, Astrid nevertheless finds within herself the courage to carry on, creating new worlds through her empathy and talent for storytelling (Danish and Swedish).

Landmark's TheatresOpens Fri., Nov. 30

The Guilty(Den skyldige)

Directed by Gustav Möller(Denmark, 2018, 85 min.)

Disgraced former street cop Asger is manning the emergency call center, where he expects a sleepy beat. That all changes when he answers a panicked phone call from a woman kidnapped by her troubled ex-husband. The woman disconnects abruptly, but Asger springs into action. Confined to the call center, forced to use others as his eyes and ears as the severity of the crime slowly becomes more clear, he uses every bit of his intuition and skill to try to find and save her.

Landmark's E Street Cinema

English

22 July

Directed by Paul Greengrass(Norway/Iceland/U.S., 2018, 143 min.)

In Norway on July 22, 2011, right-wing terrorist Anders Behring Breivik murdered 77 young people attending a Labour Party Youth Camp on Utøya Island outside of Oslo. This three-part story looks at the disaster itself, the survivors, Norway's political system and the lawyers who worked on this horrific case.

Atlantic Plumbing Cinema

Beautiful Boy

Directed by Felix Van Groeningen(U.S., 2018, 120 min.)

Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, "Beautiful Boy" chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse, and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet.

Angelika MosaicAngelika Pop-UpOpens Fri., Nov. 2

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Directed by Marielle Heller(U.S., 2018, 106 min.)

Melissa McCarthy stars as Lee Israel, the best-selling celebrity biographer who finds herself unable to get published because she had fallen out of step with the marketplace, so she turns her art form to deception.

After marrying a successful Parisian writer Willy, Colette (Keira Knightley) is transplanted from her childhood home in rural France to the intellectual and artistic splendor of Paris. Soon after, Willy convinces Colette to ghostwrite for him. She pens a semi-autobiographical novel about a witty and brazen country girl named Claudine, sparking a bestseller and a cultural sensation. Colette's fight over creative ownership and gender roles drives her to overcome societal constraints, revolutionizing literature, fashion and sexual expression.

Landmark's Bethesda Row CinemaLandmark's E Street Cinema

Crazy Rich Asians

Directed by Jon M. Chu

(U.S., 2018, 120 min.)

New Yorker Rachel accompanies her longtime boyfriend Nick to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick's family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. It turns out that he is not only the scion of one of the country's wealthiest families but also one of its most sought-after bachelors (English, Mandarin and Cantonese).

Atlantic Plumbing Cinema

At Eternity's Gate

Directed by Julian Schnabel(U.K./France/U.S., 2018, 110 min.)

This film looks at the life of painter Vincent van Gogh during the time he lived in Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise, France (English and French).

Angelika MosaicOpens Fri., Nov. 21

Fahrenheit 11/9

Directed by Michael Moore(U.S., 2018, 128 min.)

Filmmaker Michael Moore examines the current state of American politics, particularly the Donald J. Trump presidency and gun violence, while highlighting the power of grassroots democratic movements.

Landmark's E Street Cinema

The Favourite

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos(Ireland/U.K./U.S., 2018, 119 min.)

In early 18th century England, a frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah.

Opens Fri., Nov. 30

First Man

Directed by Damien Chazelle(U.S., 2018, 141 min.)

This biopic looks at the life of the astronaut Neil Armstrong and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

Follow Alex Honnold as he becomes the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000ft high El Capitan Wall. With no ropes or safety gear, he completed arguably the greatest feat in rock climbing history.

Angelika Mosaic

Gavagai

Directed by Rob Tregenza(Norway/Canada/Germany, 2018, 90 min.)

German businessman Carsten travels to Norway to translate poems by his late wife. He hires Niko, a down-on-his-luck tour guide, to drive him to the poet's home. On the road, the ghost of Carsten's wife appears to him, while Niko struggles with the sudden consequences of his girlfriend's pregnancy as the two men realize the transforming power of love, the limits of language and the human need for friendship.

The last days of Oscar Wilde — and the ghosts that haunted them — are vividly evoked in Rupert Everett's directorial debut. Everett gives a career defining performance as Wilde, physically and emotionally embodying the literary genius as he lives out his last days in exile in Europe. As the film travels through Wilde's final act and journeys through England, France and Italy, desire and loyalty face off, the transience of lust is laid bare and the true riches of love are revealed.

Angelika MosaicLandmark's E Street Cinema

Maria by Callas

Directed by Tom Volf(France, 2018, 113 min.)

See the life of famed Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas in this documentary as she tells it in her own words. Tom Volf creates a portrait of the late performer through archival footage, recordings, photos and personal films (English, French and Italian).

The Avalon TheatreOpens Fri., Nov. 9

My Brilliant Career

Directed by Gillian Armstrong(Australia, 1979, 100 min.)

This period piece played a key role in popularizing the Australian New Wave around the world. Viewers were enchanted with its breathtaking views of the Australian landscape while feminists found a new heroine in the fiercely independent Sybylla, who rejects marriage to find work she considers more meaningful (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreNov. 9 to 15

On Her Shoulders

Directed by Alexandria Bombach(U.S., 2018, 95 min.)

Twenty-three-year-old human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad's life is a dizzying array of exhausting undertakings — from giving testimony before the U.N. to visiting refugee camps to soul-bearing media interviews. Filmmaker Alexandria Bombach follows this strong-willed young woman, who survived the 2014 genocide of the Yazidis in Northern Iraq and escaped the hands of the Islamic State to become a relentless beacon of hope for her people, even when at times she longs to lay aside this monumental burden and simply have an ordinary life (English and Arabic).

West End CinemaOpens Fri., Nov. 2

The Old Man & the Gun

Directed by David Lowery(U.S., 2018, 93 min.)

Based on a true story, Forrest Tucker makes his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 and goes onto an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public.

Richard and Rachel, a couple in the throes of infertility, try to maintain their marriage as they descend deeper and deeper into the weird world of assisted reproduction and domestic adoption. When their doctor suggests third party reproduction, they bristle. But when Sadie, a recent college drop out, re-enters their life, they reconsider.

West End Cinema

Scarlet Diva

Directed by Asia Argento(Italy, 2000, 91 min.)

Actress-turned-filmmaker Asia Argento made her directorial debut with this semi-autobiographical portrait of a young actress who, despite her popularity and success, experiences despair and degradation at the hands of an abusive industry. Her harrowing journey toward redemption leads her on a sordid spree of excess across America and Europe while trying to recapture her innocence and find true love (English, Italian and French; part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreSat., Nov. 17, 10:30 p.m.,Tue., Nov. 20, 9:20 p.m.

Sir

Directed by Rohena Gera(India/France, 2018, 99 min.)

Recently widowed Ratna decides to move from her small rural village to take a job in the big city as a live-in housekeeper for Ashwin, an architect from an upper-crust Mumbai family. When Ashwin is jilted by his equally upper-crust fiancé, he slowly builds a connection with Ratna, who has big dreams and an infectious sense of optimism. As the pair connect, however, unspoken — and spoken — class and gender barriers come into play (English and Hindi; part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

In 1850s Oregon, a gold prospector is chased by the infamous duo of assassins, the Sisters Brothers.

Landmark's Bethesda Row CinemaLandmark's E Street Cinema

Studio 54

Directed by Matt Tyrnauer(U.S., 2018, 98 min.)

Studio 54 was the epicenter of 70s hedonism — a place that not only redefined the nightclub, but also came to symbolize an entire era. Now, 39 years after the velvet rope was first slung across the club's hallowed threshold, a feature documentary tells the real story behind the greatest club of all time.

Landmark's E Street Cinema

Tea with the Dames

Directed by Roger Michell(U.K., 2018, 84 min.)

Dames Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith have let the cameras in on a friendship that goes back more than half a century. The four acting greats discuss their careers and reminisce about their humble beginnings in the theater.

Landmark's E Street Cinema

Viper Club

Directed by Maryam Keshavarz(U.S., 2018, 109 min.)

A war correspondent gets taken hostage while on assignment, prompting his mother, impatient with the government's lack of concern, to take matters into her own hands.

Angelika MosaicOpens Fri., Nov. 2

The Wife

Directed by Björn Runge(Sweden/U.S./U.K., 2018, 100 min.)

After nearly 40 years of marriage, Joan and Joe Castleman (Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce) are complements. Where Joe is vain, Joan is self-effacing. And where Joe enjoys his very public role as Great American Novelist, Joan pours her considerable intellect, grace, charm and diplomacy into the private role of Great Man's Wife. As Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize, this film interweaves the story of the couple's youthful passion and ambition with a portrait of a marriage, 30-plus years later, filled with shared compromises, secrets, betrayals and mutual love.

Angelika Pop-UpLandmark's Bethesda Row CinemaWest End Cinema

Wildlife

Directed by Paul Dano(U.S., 2018, 104 min.)

In 1960s Montana, an unemployed father decides to join the cause of fighting a nearby wildfire, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves. Suddenly forced into the role of an adult, 14-year-old Joe witnesses his mother's struggle as she tries to keep her head above water.

Landmark's Bethesda Row CinemaLandmark's E Street Cinema

French

Fatma 75

Directed by Selma Baccar(Tunisia, 1976, 60 min.)

Both a feminist essay-film and the first in a series of powerful stories about strong female figures in the country, this documentary was made to mark the U.N. International Year of the Woman in 1975. Recounting the evolution of the status of women in Tunisia from 1930 onward, "Fatma 75" explores both the fight for female emancipation and Tunisia's wider struggle for independence (French and Arabic; (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreThu., Nov. 8, 7:15 p.m.

Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels

Directed by Chantal Akerman(Belgium/France, 1975, 201 min.)

A singular work in film history, Chantal Akerman's film meticulously details, with a sense of impending doom, the daily routine of a middle-aged widow — whose chores include making the beds, cooking dinner for her son and turning the occasional trick (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreSun., Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.

One Sings, The Other Doesn't(L'une chante, l'autre pas)

Directed by Agnès Varda(France, 1977, 120 min.)

When 17-year-old Pauline helps struggling mother of two Suzanne procure the money for an abortion, a deep bond forms between the two, one that endures over the course of more than a decade as each searches for her place in the world (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreNov. 4 to 8

Peppermint Soda

Directed by Diane Kurys(France, 1977, 101 min.)

Anne and Frederique are sisters entering their teen years in 1963 France, torn between divorced parents and struggling with the confines of their strict school. Along the way, they undergo an awakening, both political and romantic (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreSat., Nov. 10, 11 a.m.,Sun., Nov. 11, 11 a.m.

Raw

Directed by Julia Ducournau(France/Belgium, 2016, 99 min.)

Sixteen-year-old Justine is a shy, vegetarian student at a veterinary college, where she finds herself in the shadow of her distant older sister. When Justine develops an insatiable lust for flesh as the result of a gruesome hazing ritual, this grisly and gory tale of a cannibalistic coming-of-age quickly turns into a bold and bloody exploration of womanhood (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreFri., Nov. 2, 9:45 p.m.,Tue., Nov. 6, 10 p.m.

Sofia

Directed by Meryem Benm'Barek-Aloïsi(France/Qatar, 2018, 80 min.)

When a post-dinner stomach pain turns out to be the onset of labor, 20-year-old Sofia unexpectedly bears a child out of wedlock, which is illegal in Morocco, and is thrown into an impossible position where, with the help of her cousin, she must track down her baby's father, dodge arrest and placate her family — all against the clock, and with a newborn child in tow (French and Arabic; part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreNov. 16 to 21

German

3 Days in Quiberon(3 Tage in Quiberon)

Directed by Emily Atef(Germany/Austria/France, 2018, 115 min.)

Deeply private and in precarious health, enigmatic and elusive actress Romy Schneider grants an interview and portrait session to a journalist and a photographer, despite her misgivings about the press. What unfolds over three days at a French seaside health retreat is a fascinating portrait of the legendary actress (part of the Goethe-Institut's 26th annual Film|Neu festival showcasing films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

Landmark's E Street CinemaThu., Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Back for Good

Directed by Mia Spengler(Germany, 2018)

After a publicity stunt that involved a stay in rehab, former reality TV star Angie must move back in with her mother and take care of her sister, who is going through the struggles of adolescence. As she reconnects with her family, Angie must decide whether to stay with them or return to the cutthroat world of reality television (part of the Goethe-Institut's 26th annual Film|Neu festival showcasing films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

Landmark's E Street CinemaFri., Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m.

A Dysfunctional Cat(Die defekte Katze)

Directed by Susan Gordanshekan(Germany, 2018, 93 min.)

It wasn't fate that brought Mina and Kian together, but a professional matchmaker. After their wedding, Mina moves from Iran to Germany, where Kian works as a surgeon. What ensues is the newlyweds' attempt to make their traditional Iranian marriage work in German society (German, Farsi and English; part of the Goethe-Institut's 26th annual Film|Neu festival showcasing films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

Landmark's E Street CinemaSun., Nov. 4, 2 p.m.

In the Aisles(In den Gängen)

Directed by Thomas Stuber(Germany, 2018, 125 min.)

After losing his job, shy and introverted Christian discovers love, friendship and a whole new mysterious world between the surprisingly intriguing aisles of a wholesale market (part of the Goethe-Institut's 26th annual Film|Neu festival showcasing films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

Landmark's E Street CinemaSun., Nov. 4, 3:45 p.m.

Mademoiselle Paradis(Licht)

Directed by Barbara Albert(Austria/Germany, 2018, 97 min.)

Set in 18th-century Vienna, this stunning period piece centers on 18-year-old Maria, a pianist of exceptional talent who has been blind since the age of 3. After countless failed attempts to restore her sight, her overbearing parents decide to pursue a controversial "miracle doctor." But when her treatments begin to succeed, Maria notices that as her sight is returning, her musical virtuosity is declining (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreThu., Nov. 15, 7:15 p.m.

Magical Mystery

Directed by Arne Feldhusen(Germany, 2017, 111 min.)

Ex-artist Karl Schmidt lives a quiet life after suffering a nervous breakdown. When his old friends from the Berlin techno scene ask him to join them on their tour, he suddenly finds himself on a whirlwind techno journey through 1990s Germany that triggers old anxieties and fosters new personal growth (part of the Goethe-Institut's 26th annual Film|Neu festival showcasing films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

Landmark's E Street CinemaSat., Nov. 3, 8:30 p.m.

The Silent Revolution(Das schweigende Klassenzimmer)

Directed by Lars Kraume(Germany, 2018, 111 min.)

A classroom in 1956 East Germany holds a minute of silence for the victims of a violently suppressed uprising in Budapest. The consequences of this act will affect their school, the community, and the children themselves more than they can ever imagine (German and Russian; part of the Goethe-Institut's 26th annual Film|Neu festival showcasing films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

Landmark's E Street CinemaSun., Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

Indonesian

Marlina is a young widow living alone in a remote farmhouse with the embalmed corpse of her husband. When a band of robbers, entitled by centuries of male domination, arrives to steal her livestock, seize her possessions and rape her, Marlina thinks fast and acts even faster — and the next day sees her hitting the road on a journey of empowerment and redemption (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreFri., Nov. 9, 9:45 p.m.,Sun., Nov. 11, 9:15 p.m.

Japanese

Harakiri

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi(Japan, 1962, 133 min.)

After his clan collapses, an unemployed samurai arrives at Lord Iyi's manor, begging for permission to commit ritual suicide on the property. Iyi's clansmen, believing the desperate ronin is merely angling for a new position, try to force his hand—but they have underestimated his beliefs.

Freer Gallery of ArtWed., Nov. 7, 2 p.m.

Shoplifters(Manbiki kazoku)

Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda(Japan, 2018, 121 min.)

A Japanese couple stuck with part-time jobs and hence inadequate incomes avail themselves of the fruits of shoplifting to make ends meet. The unusual routine is about to change from carefree and matter-of-fact to something more dramatic, however, as the couple open their doors to a beleaguered teenage girl.

The Avalon TheatreOpens Fri., Nov. 30

Korean

Burning

Directed by Chang-dong Lee(South Korea, 2018, 148 min.)

A part-time worker is asked by his girlfriend to look after her cat while she's on a trip to Africa. She returns with a mysterious, rich man, only to vanish shortly afterward.

Angelika MosaicOpens Fri., Nov. 9

Mandarin

Girls Always Happy

Directed by Yang Mingming(China, 2018, 117 min.)

Wu, a writer in her late 20s, elegantly yet playfully riding a scooter through the maze of Beijing alleys crammed with lower-class courtyard houses. She also glides over the equally winding paths of her ambivalent relationship with her mother as the two women bicker, take care of a grandfather who has not yet written his will and argue about how to deal with useless, pompous, cowardly or "disgusting" men.

Freer Gallery of ArtSun., Nov. 4, 1 p.m.

An Elephant Sitting Still

Directed by Hu Bo(China, 2018, 230 min.)

In a zoo in the northern Chinese city of Manzhouli sits an equable elephant, solemnly oblivious to every happening in the world around it. Reports of the creature's defiant indifference pass between the four central characters like secret knowledge, a possible clue for escaping their own enclosing fates.

In Ying Liang's semiautobiographical feature, a Chinese filmmaker living in exile with her husband and young son in Hong Kong after her last film ran afoul of the mainland authorities. When she is invited to a film festival in Taiwan, she books her ailing mother on a guided tour of the island so she can see her grandson for the first time and her daughter for perhaps the last.

Freer Gallery of ArtSun., Nov. 11, 2 p.m.

Long Day's Journey into Night

Directed by Bi Gan(China, 2018, 133 min.)

Mysterious drifter Hongwu journeys back to Kaili, China, in search of his long-lost lover. As she proves elusive, Hongwu retreats into the past, which impinges on the present through fragmentary flashbacks and enigmatic reveries delivered in voiceover.

Freer Gallery of ArtFri., Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

The Swim

Directed by He Xiangyu(China, 2017, 96 min.)

The bucolic landscapes in the Chinese town of Kuandian are haunted by a hidden history. This past is brought to light through interviews with Chinese veterans of the Korean war and North Korean defectors who have sought a better life in China, including women who were deceived by human traffickers and sold as wives to Chinese men.

Freer Gallery of ArtSun., Nov. 4, 3:30 p.m.

The Widowed Witch

Directed by Cai Chengjie(China, 2018, 120 min.)

After being violently revived by a shaman and raped by her uncle, widowed Erhao decides enough is enough and leaves town in a dilapidated camper van. In the course of her travels, she meets a bedridden old shaman whose ability to walk is restored after Erhao accidentally leaves him in a bath overnight. His miraculous recovery convinces the locals that Erhao is a witch, inspiring both awe and revulsion. While Erhao does seem to possess magical powers, perhaps her greatest ability is to manipulate the distrust, greed and superstition that seem to infect everyone she meets.

Freer Gallery of ArtFri., Nov. 9, 7 p.m.

Russian

Wings

Directed by Larisa Shepitko(U.S.S.R., 1966, 85 min.)

For her first feature after graduating from the All-Russian State Institute for Cinematography, Ukrainian filmmaker Larisa Shepitko trained her lens on the fascinating Russian character actress Maya Bulgakova, who gives a marvelous performance as a once-heroic Russian fighter-pilot now living a quiet, disappointingly ordinary life as a school principal (part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver Theatre

Nov. 2 to 8

Spanish

El Angel

Directed by Luis Ortega(Argentina/Spain, 2018, 118 min.)

In 1971 Buenos Aires, Carlitos is an angelic-looking seventeen-year-old with movie star swagger, blond curls and a baby face, who discovers his true calling as a thief. When he meets the handsome, slightly older Ramón, the two embark on a journey of discovery, love and crime, which randomly escalates to murder.

Landmark's TheatresOpens Fri., Nov. 16

Júlia Ist

Directed by Marta Cruañas(Spain, 2017, 90 min.)

Júlia is an architecture student from Barcelona who decides to embark on a student exchange year in Berlin. Full of expectations and lacking life experience, Júlia finds herself lost in a cold and grey Berlin. Little by little, however, she builds up her life in Berlin and gets to know who she is in this new context (Spanish, English, Catalan and German; part of the "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women" festival).

AFI Silver TheatreTue., Nov. 6, 7:15 p.m.

Swiss-German

Blue My Mind

Directed by Lisa Brühlmann(Switzerland, 2018, 97 min.)

After her family's big move to Zürich, 15-year-old Mia is facing an overwhelming transformation that calls her entire existence into question (part of the Goethe-Institut's 26th annual Film|Neu festival showcasing films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland).